Swift, Chimney bird pictures

Unused chimneys of old dwellings make favorite roosting and nesting places for these smoke-colored birds.

They originally dwelt in hollow trees until the advent of man furnished more convenient places, although we would scarcely consider the sootlined brick surface as good as a clean hollow tree.

Spines on the end of each tail feather enable them to hang to their upright walls, and to slowly hitch their way to the outer world. Throughout the day numbers of them are scouring the air for their fare of insects, but as night approaches, they return to the chimney.

Note. - A continuous and not unmusical twittering uttered while on the wing and also within the depths of the chimney.

Nest. - Made of small twigs or sticks glued to the sides of a chimney and each other by the bird's saliva. The three to five white egg's are long and narrow (.75 x .50).

Range. - N.A. east to the Plains, breeding from Florida to Labrador; winters south of U.S.